ISSN 2398-4082 (online)
The Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health is an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal exploring the links between urban design and mental health. This journal aims to share compelling ideas and evidence-based practical recommendations across the disciplines to inspire research where there are gaps, to bring new perspectives, and to help drive the implementation of good ideas on the ground. Academics of all disciplines, as well as architects, psychologists, landscape architects, urban planners, geographers, engineers, developers, and people working in any other relevant disciplines, are invited to contribute.
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS!
Volume 10: Uncertainties
This volume explores a variety of uncertainties on the intersection of urban design and addressing mental health. To what extent can empirical evidence influence urban design for mental health? How much do we know, and how much science is actually needed in urban design for mental health? Volume 10 of the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health challenges the boundaries of evidence-based design, inviting critical perspectives on the tension between science and development. Should urban design rely on rigorous data, or is there value in theoretically sound yet empirically unproven ideas? How do buzzwords, trends and fads shape practice, and where do gaps in knowledge persist? Academics and practitioners are encouraged to submit bold and reflective pieces that address these uncertainties and questions, redefine, or defend the role of evidence in shaping mentally healthy cities.
We welcome contrasting viewpoints—from historical precedents, participatory design, and speculative futures to neuroscience and AI-driven predictions. Submit original research articles, theoretical essays, and review papers that offer epistemological foundations of urban design and mental health. We welcome submissions that thoughtfully analyse the interplay between empirical evidence, theoretical frameworks, and design implementation in creating and promoting mental well-being in urban settings. Contributions may explore historical theories that have shaped urban design practice, critique current evidence standards, or propose novel theoretical approaches to decision-making in the field. In this volume, we also welcome submissions of art that illustrate the vol.10 topic - The selected art piece will be incorporated on our cover page. The objective of this call is to compile scholarly works that critically engage with theory-practice relationships, challenge conventional evidence hierarchies, and ultimately advance both theoretical discourse and evidence-based practice for healthier urban environments.
This volume explores a variety of uncertainties on the intersection of urban design and addressing mental health. To what extent can empirical evidence influence urban design for mental health? How much do we know, and how much science is actually needed in urban design for mental health? Volume 10 of the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health challenges the boundaries of evidence-based design, inviting critical perspectives on the tension between science and development. Should urban design rely on rigorous data, or is there value in theoretically sound yet empirically unproven ideas? How do buzzwords, trends and fads shape practice, and where do gaps in knowledge persist? Academics and practitioners are encouraged to submit bold and reflective pieces that address these uncertainties and questions, redefine, or defend the role of evidence in shaping mentally healthy cities.
We welcome contrasting viewpoints—from historical precedents, participatory design, and speculative futures to neuroscience and AI-driven predictions. Submit original research articles, theoretical essays, and review papers that offer epistemological foundations of urban design and mental health. We welcome submissions that thoughtfully analyse the interplay between empirical evidence, theoretical frameworks, and design implementation in creating and promoting mental well-being in urban settings. Contributions may explore historical theories that have shaped urban design practice, critique current evidence standards, or propose novel theoretical approaches to decision-making in the field. In this volume, we also welcome submissions of art that illustrate the vol.10 topic - The selected art piece will be incorporated on our cover page. The objective of this call is to compile scholarly works that critically engage with theory-practice relationships, challenge conventional evidence hierarchies, and ultimately advance both theoretical discourse and evidence-based practice for healthier urban environments.
Contributions may range as follows:
- 1,000-2,000 words for case studies, opinion pieces and graduate student submissions.
- 4,000-6,000 words (excluding references) for evidence-based research articles, case studies, and other rigorous research studies.
- Cover Art: Square format, 8 inch x 8 inch or 2400px x 2400px, minimum 300 dpi resolution.
Submission deadline: 15 November 2025 (SUBMIT HERE)
What does the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health publish?
The Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health is a peer-reviewed academic periodical dedicated to disseminating high-quality scholarly work that bridges the disciplines of urban design and mental health. Our publication portfolio includes original research articles, essays, thought pieces, and commentaries, contributing new findings to the field.
We are particularly interested in research with clear practical applications, interesting design solutions and ideas, which have been already implemented (case studies). Submissions to the journal are expected to meet the rigorous academic standards that characterize influential, field-shaping research.
The Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health is a peer-reviewed academic periodical dedicated to disseminating high-quality scholarly work that bridges the disciplines of urban design and mental health. Our publication portfolio includes original research articles, essays, thought pieces, and commentaries, contributing new findings to the field.
We are particularly interested in research with clear practical applications, interesting design solutions and ideas, which have been already implemented (case studies). Submissions to the journal are expected to meet the rigorous academic standards that characterize influential, field-shaping research.
Checklist and formatting for submission: https://journals.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/urbandesignmentalhealth/about/submissions
For all types of submission:
For all types of submission:
- We value clear, succinct, and grammatically correct writing that is accessible to people who work in a wide range of disciplines.
- Please submit an MS Word file.
- Please use the submission template for all resubmissions. First submissions may be submitted in any format.
- Please include a front page including:
- Proposed title
- Max. 200-word abstract (not required for Dialogue submissions)
- Full names and affiliations of all authors
- Corresponding email address
- Social media details for authors to facilitate discussion of your paper on social media, if available.
- All submissions should focus on the links between urban design and mental health.
- Please review the scope of the journal and the theme above for details.
- All submissions should be fully referenced as appropriate with bracketed numbers throughout the text with references in APA format.
- Please include at least one relevant photograph, illustration, or other graphic (with description and any attributions).
- Authors are expected to cite any datasets in the body of the article, with a corresponding reference in the reference list.
- If ethics approval is relevant, details should be included. Please check our Policies on Human and Animal Rights.
- Please report funding details. In the case of no funding please include the appropriate statement.
- Please check our Conflict of Interest Policies and include a completed conflicts of interest disclosure form.
- Please avoid specialist jargon to ensure that the papers are accessible to all.
- Please check our peer-review process.
- Currently this journal is published in English only, though we want to publish papers from a wide range of countries; abstracts in other languages are welcome.
- Please consult our Data Sharing Policy.
- For further information about authorship criteria, please see the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines.
JOURNAL FEES
There are no charges for publishing. Authors retain copyright and publishing rights without restrictions and grant the journal right of first publication under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License.
SUBMISSION
- Please submit as an MS Word document on our submission site: https://journals.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/urbandesignmentalhealth/about/submissions
- A submission template is available here: https://journals.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/urbandesignmentalhealth/article/view/6628
- If you would like to discuss your planned piece before writing/submitting it, please email the:
- Editor-in-Chief: Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo
- Co-Editors: Greg Rybarczyk. or Nelida Quintero
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR PAPER
Once published, we will promote your paper on our platforms.
We also ask you to help further the reach of the Journal and your published piece, so everyone can get the most from the content.
Below are some of our suggestions for promotion:
We also ask you to help further the reach of the Journal and your published piece, so everyone can get the most from the content.
Below are some of our suggestions for promotion:
- Sharing it on your social media platforms;
- Sharing it with your institution and/or professional colleagues, and having them promote it;
- Sharing it with planners, policymakers and other decision-makers relevant to the location/topic of your paper;
- Sharing a summary of your findings with media relevant to the location/topic of your paper;
- Talking about it at conferences, on blogs, podcasts, and other such opportunities;
- Writing op-eds based on your paper, and linking to it.